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Landan Schaffert

Commission: congressional

Zip: 80743

Submittted: August 11, 2021

Comment:

The two rural districts that have been drawn in the preliminary Congressional map represent the rural parts of Colorado well. The last few years, those in the agriculture industry and other rural sectors have felt as if their voices have been largely ignored, but the people in rural Colorado have been thankful to have a Congressional district that is encompassed by borders that permit rural constituents to select elected officials that truly embody their values and give them a seat at the legislative table. The preliminary map sends a clear message to those in ag that they matter and deserve representation. It also sends a message to those outside of the rural areas that rural Colorado is a priority. The eastern plains district is anchored by Greeley in the north part of the state and Pueblo in the south. CD4 is an ag and energy district with ag being the uniting factor. The eastern Colorado plains are a community of interest just like the Western Slope. This area is often referred to as just another part of Kansas. Don’t split the eastern rural and southern rural areas. Keep them together and keep the preliminary map. Thank you for considering my comments as you move forward.

Boulder County Commissioners

Commission: congressional

Zip: 80306

Submittted: August 11, 2021

Comment:

See attached document for comments from the Boulder County Commissioners regarding congressional redistricting. Thank you.

Tambi katieb

Commission: both

Zip: 81631

Submittted: August 11, 2021

Comment:

My concern is that we are not split off from the western slope that we have far more in common with than Boulder ! As a long time resident over 25 years here in Eagle, our values as voters continue to align with communities of interest to the western slope not the front range, especially on regional issues like Colorado River Water and ranching and recreation tourism. Keep eagle county as part of the west slope please . Thank you, Tambi

James L Hicks

Commission: both

Zip: 80487

Submittted: August 11, 2021

Comment:

Colorado State Redistricting Commissioners From: James Hicks Steamboat Springs August 8, 2021 I have lived and worked in Routt County since 1975. I was a Wildlife officer then a wildlife biologist for the Colorado Division of Wildlife. I have seen the Yampa Valley change from primarily a ranching and coal mining area to a primarily a recreation area. Colorado House Districts: Large areas of Routt, Eagle, Summit, Pitkin and other mountain Counties are experiencing major increases in the number of tourists that come from all over the States and the world to visit and recreate outdoors in activities such as skiing, hiking, mountaineering, hunting, bicycling, etc. Currently the most common issues and concerns of these mountain/tourist areas, due to recent rapid population growth, are housing shortage (primarily for the labor force), an increase in 2nd-homes and short-term rentals, more traffic and congestion, poorer air quality, limited resources, etc. Moffat, Rio Blanco and Garfield counties certainly have some of the same issues to deal with but being more oriented to agriculture and the coal and oil & gas industries they have other more specific concerns. Of major import is the ongoing energy market transition from fossil fuels that results in reduction of coal production and the shutting down electric generating power plants. These communities will see a transitioning of labor either to new local industries or an exodus of residents. Please be aware that previous efforts of Routt, Moffat and Rio Blanco Counties to work together and to cooperate has been disappointing. The topics and areas of concern were too diverse. However, it has been beneficial to have both Routt and Eagle Counties in the same district. Some, but not all, issues need to involve state government. By creating communities of common interest there is a greater possibility that they would cooperate and coordinate their efforts to address similar problems and therefore be beneficial to those counties and the State. These mountain/tourist areas, communities with common interests would be best served if they had a common representative in the State House. Therefore I respectfully request that you revise this map to include Routt in the same district with Eagle and Summit, and perhaps Pitkin, Counties. Colorado Senate Districts: For the same reasons mentioned above, I believe that a senate district that would better represent Routt County and similar communities of interest would include Routt, Eagle, Jackson, Grand, Summit and possibly Pitkin Counties if the various districting parameters that define communities of interest can be reasonably satisfied. Currently, Grand, Jackson, Summit, Eagle and Pitkin Counties comprise The Northwest Council of Governments (NWCOG) which is an effective example of a community of interest. Therefore I respectfully request that you consider this option seriously. Colorado Congressional Districts: This district is, and as shown on your preliminary map would be, extremely varied in its constituency and too large for effective representation. The vast distances, diverse economies and environmental challenges make it difficult to represent its constituents. Removing Pueblo with its distinctly urban and front-range concerns from CD 3 is reasonable, but the map still needs fine tuning. I don’t have suggestions now but will comment later if I do and there is time. Thank you for your service on this committee and for taking my comments. I look forward to hearing about overall public comments seeing what the next iterations of these maps will be.

Carol Hoeffler

Commission: legislative

Zip: 80304

Submittted: August 11, 2021

Comment:

There are many reasons that the City of Boulder should remain connected to the mountain communities to the west. Chiefly, climate change links Boulder to our western neighbors as a matter of public health and safety. In order to withstand and prepare for increasingly severe weather and wildfires, it's important for the affected communities to have strong representation. The cities of Longmont and Lafayette are not threatened by fires and floods in the way that the city of Boulder is. To pair these towns with our mountain communities weakens representation for all. Another issue I see is the removal of Barker Dam, Boulder's water source, from Boulder's district. This disconnection makes no sense as residents of Boulder deserve representation around this vital resource. To the east, I can't figure out why parts of Boulder and Weld counties would be considered communities of interest. The values of these communities are quite different, especially where oil and gas are concerned. All of these people deserve representation and combining these communities dilutes their voices. Boulder isn't just Pearl Street and CU. We are tightly connected to the mountain communities to the west and to our businesses and industry to the east. Representation for our community is impossible under the draft house district proposal.

Patricia Leone

Commission: both

Zip: 81039

Submittted: August 11, 2021

Comment:

Thank you Commissioners for your service to the citizens of Colorado. This redistricting process requires a big sacrifice from each of you. Thank you! I provided in person testimony in Trinidad and am providing follow up comments here. I reach out to you representing only myself and the friends and neighbors I have visited with about this process. My husband and I own a mixed animal veterinary hospital in Otero County that serves clients across southeast Colorado including Winter Livestock La Junta, one of the largest and oldest cattle markets in the region. We also ranch raising cattle, sheep and horses with property in western Otero and eastern Pueblo Counties. Preserving rural communities is critical to the economic and environmental health of Colorado. Rural Coloradoans must have a seat at the table as legislators are confronted with issues such as environmental stewardship and economic development. Farm and ranch families share values, heritage and traditions. Rural Coloradoans face unique issues and obstacles unlike issues in urban and more populated areas. The Preliminary Congressional map allowing eastern and western rural Colorado representation is a great solution! Thank you! This solution takes into consideration differences in farming and ranching and forest management. In addition to the mountains, differences in water issues, transportation and differing regional issues disconnect our communities. The Preliminary 4th Congressional District unites rural farming and ranching communities that use north/south highways SH-71 and U.S. Highway 385 and east/west corridor U.S. Highway 50. These rural highways with some funding and development could play a key role in diminishing traffic and semi-truck congestion on I-25 while enabling economic development of our towns. Another critical interest the citizens of this potential district of Colorado share is access to rural hospitals and medical centers. Agriculture is the number two source of income for Colorado with 2019 cash receipts of $7.48 Billion per “The USDA Colorado Agricultural Statistics 2020 Report”. As you know, the recent PAUSE initiative threatened food production in our state. Every rural Colorado citizen relies on the success of the farmers and ranchers as we are interdependent. If farms and ranches fail, supporting businesses and schools will follow. The current Colorado Congressional Preliminary Map provides representation to every rural citizen and the opportunity to protecting every Coloradoan’s right to affordable food. The most concerning issue for me today is the Preliminary House District Map that splits part Otero County and enjoins it and neighboring Crowley County into District 41. Please do not split Otero County. Please do not separate Otero and Crowley Counties. These are two interdependent communities. These rural counties are not best served in this proposed map. Otero and Crowley County belong in House District 40. The split of Otero along the Arkansas River literally divides towns and communities. Crowley County relies on Otero County for a hospital and many services due to the limited services within low population Crowley County. The K-12 schools in these two communities and youth rec sports are interconnected. The Arkansas Valley Fair in Rocky Ford (Otero County) hosts the livestock show and sale for both counties. Although Crowley has a small fair, the two rural counties and businesses that support the livestock sale cannot afford to support two livestock sales and a combined event is held. This is not how most counties operate. Ranching and farming families here are concerned with stewardship of our land and water, economic development and preservation of our unique history. These are just a few things that unite us. Splitting Otero County along the river divides families and denies us adequate representation. Please allow Otero and Crowley Counties into HD 40 with the other rural counties in southeastern Colorado that share common interests of agriculture, rural economic development, rural health care, transportation and water. Thank you! Trish Leone

Misty Plowright

Commission: congressional

Zip: 80915

Submittted: August 11, 2021

Comment:

Colorado passed a law ending prison gerrymandering. It would be a miscarriage of justice of the highest order if the congressional redistricting commission chose to utterly ignore that law based on the reasoning that the morally just law did not apply to the commission. Regardless of the legal technicalities involved in whether or not the law applies, it would represent a clear moral failing on the part of the commission to say "This law was passed to prevent the disenfranchisement of people and have a more just accounting of political presence of people to ensure appropriate representation, especially for groups historically targeted for dilution of their political power... But we're just going to ignore that because we can." Prison gerrymandering, the practice of counting prisoners where they are incarcerated rather than where they are from, is little more than the 3/5ths clause reincarnated. It counts a population that is completely under the absolute control of someone else and takes their political power while preventing them from having any voice of their own. The consequences of this decision will last for at least a decade. I urge the commission to end this egregious practice of stealing political power from historically disadvantaged communities. It's no accident that prison gerrymandering in general has the effect of stealing power from BIPOC communities and transferring it to rural whites. I urge the commission to end that practice, by reallocating prisoners in the spirit of Colorado law that forbids prison gerrymandering. For more details, please visit the following website: https://www.prisonersofthecensus.org/

James L Hicks

Commission: both

Zip: 80487

Submittted: August 11, 2021

Comment:

C:\Users\Jim\Documents\redistricting commission letter.odt

Dennis Whalen

Commission: congressional

Zip: 80466

Submittted: August 11, 2021

Comment:

Please see the attached letter regarding the proposed movement for the Peak to Peak region of Western Boulder County from Congressional District 2 to District 3. This letter has been submitted after agreement from all members of the Peak to Peak Alliance. In summary, there is no common community of interest between the communities along the Western Slope and those located in Western Boulder County. However there is significant common interest among the communities of Western Boulder County, including the unincorporated areas. Respectfully submitted, Dennis Whalen, Chair Peak to Peak Housing and Human Services Alliance

Leslie Levy

Commission: both

Zip: 80211

Submittted: August 10, 2021

Comment:

My name is Leslie Levy. Ten years ago my husband Jonathan and I moved from New York to Denver. We love living in Denver, Colorado because there is so much we enjoy about the city and of course the mountains; skiing, hiking, bike riding, the restaurants and the predominance of all the cultural activities. We can have a wonderful day skiing or hiking in the mountains, and enjoy fine dining and a concert in the evening. We live in the Lower Highlands neighborhood of Denver. It’s a relatively diverse community; but most people live here to enjoy the quick and in many cases walkable access to downtown, as well as the ability to walk to so many wonderful restaurants, shops and services within blocks. Many people I talk to discuss issues such as the extreme prices of rent and real estate. This really affects the ability for younger people to live in the area. In addition, many are concerned about development, while still maintaining the character of the neighborhood. This affects the people who have lived here for decades as well as those, like us, who moved here because of the sense of community and the historic nature of architecture which is being constantly diminished as houses are scrapped and new, often out of character structures are built. Many of these issues have developed over the past 10 years. We need to make sure our legislative districts remain in tact to address the issues that come with extreme growth of population and development that is unique to our community because of our proximity to downtown Denver.